Charles Street
Heating & Ventilation
Heat
Apartments are equipped with hydronic heating systems, which use hot water circulating through sealed pipes to heat your living space. Radiators are located beneath the living room and bedroom windows.
In accordance Toronto municipal by-laws, U of T is required to maintain an ambient temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 Celsius) three feet from exterior walls from September 15 until June 1.
For heat to circulate properly, ensure your ventilation grills are clean and do not block radiators (e.g., with heavy curtains or furniture) or the draft under your front door.
Be sure to report any heating difficulties, such as leaks in valves or fittings or window drafts to Housing Services immediately. If your apartment is cold, a maintenance technician will come and take temperature readings and identify potential causes (e.g., problems with radiators, air vents, etc.).
Ventilation
Your apartment has ventilation grills in the kitchen and bathroom which are designed to pull steam, smoke, and odours out of your apartment and to circulate heat from your heating radiators.
Clean the ventilation grills to improve the circulation of air and heat in your apartment, as they often become clogged with dust and grease. Do not tamper with these grills: blocking them will result in increased humidity, leading to heavy winter condensation on window frames, damage to plaster and paint, and a colder apartment during the winter.
Blocking your washroom vents may cause build-up of mould and mildew. Inadequate ventilation will also cause your smoke detector/alarm to respond to minor kitchen steam.
The fresh air make-up systems pumps fresh air into the building corridors and apartments from the outdoors 24 hours per day ,which is heated (in winter) . As air is removed from your apartment through the ventilator grills, fresh air will replace it by passing under and around your apartment door.
Residents may feel a draft around their front door; please do not block this with weatherstripping or other materials. Weather stripping these gaps cuts off the supply of fresh air coming into the apartment, which negatively impacts the overall ventilation system, and often causes damage to plaster and paint.
Questions or Concerns?
Contact Us
Contact the Housing Services with any concerns about heating or ventilation in your unit.